Shakir Bell will discuss the controversial end of his stellar Indiana State career with NFL scouts and team representatives.

But, for now, the former Warren Central High standout and NCAA Football Championship Subdivision All-American will not publicly discuss why he left the Sycamores in October.

"There's no bad blood there," Bell said after a recent workout with 17 other players in St. Vincent Sports Performance's pre-draft preparation program. "I understand everyone is focused on what happened and what really went on.

"That story will be told when it's ready to be told. It's not very important to me now."

The manner that Bell – a finalist for the Walter Payton Award in 2011, emblematic of the nation's top FCS player – left Indiana State is unclear. Bell tweeted immediately afterwards that he was kicked off the team but later deleted the tweets and declined to discuss them further. First-year coach Mike Sanford said it was because a foot injury would make Bell unavailable for the rest of his senior year and declined further comment. Sanford did not respond to interview requests for this story from The Star.

"There's a time and place to address all of these things," said Derek Spearman, Bell's agent. "It's not time until you go in front of the (NFL) decision-makers and address them. He'll explain honestly what he went through.

"After the people in position to give you a job make their judgments, maybe you can tell the media."

Former Warren Central High School tailback Shakir Bell, who left Indiana State under controversial circumstances, is working out with the St. Vincent Sports Performance Pre-Draft Program.
Danese Kenon / The Star

Bell has been absent from the postseason all-star circuit. Spearman said Bell had an invitation to play in the East-West Shrine game — an all-star game for draft eligible players — last weekend. (Five other players working out at St. Vincent played in it.) But Spearman – noting that he was not hired by Bell until about 10 days ago – said the necessary paperwork wasn't returned in time.

Bell has not been invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, held each February in Indianapolis, but will have a pro day with other players he is training with on Feb. 20. That's during the combine and Spearman expects representatives from nearly all 32 teams to attend.

"My opinion is that Shakir's (draft position) is going to be based on the success he has at his pro day," said Spearman, adding he has spoken to six NFL teams. "Everyone has seen his level of production these last three years."

Bell's production was impressive through his junior season at Indiana State. Despite being listed at a tiny, by NFL standards, 5-8, 185 pounds, Bell had 3,794 yards rushing during that stretch and the Sycamores had three consecutive winning seasons – which came after 2-54 record over the previous five seasons. The Sycamores' 7-4 record in 2012 included a victory at North Dakota State, winner of the last three FCS national titles.

But they lost their final two games that season, likely costing them a postseason tournament berth. Coach Trent Miles, who had led the rebuilding of the program, left to become the coach at Georgia State.

Sanford, a Utah State assistant and former head coach at UNLV, took over a team hit hard by graduation and Indiana State went 1-10 this season. "From Sycamores to Sickamores" read a headline in the Grand Forks (N.D.) Herald after Bell left the team.

"We did a lot of great things at Indiana State," Bell said. "Even the last year, we were a new team. We had a whole new coaching staff. It was a fresh team. My whole career at Indiana State was a blessing, no matter what happened."

Spearman said he expects Bell to be selected around the fifth round of the NFL draft in May, but his client isn't generating much pre-draft buzz. One respected draft analyst declined to assess Bell's position, saying he had not watched film on him yet.

Shakir Bell works out at the St. Vincent's Sports Performance Pre-Draft program Wednesday, January 22, 2014. Bell is a former Warren Central High School RB. (Photo: Danese Kenon/The Star)

Shakir Bell checks in with Brandon Johnson (left) to review his running form Wednesday, January 22, 2014 while working out at the St. Vincent's Sports Performance Pre-Draft program. Bell is a former Warren Central High School RB. (Photo: Danese Kenon/The Star)

Shakir Bell shares a laugh with one of the guys after working out at the St. Vincent's Sports Performance Pre-Draft program Wednesday, January 22, 2014. Bell is a former Warren Central High School RB. (Photo: Danese Kenon/The Star)

Shakir Bell checks in with Brandon Johnson (left) to review his running form Wednesday, January 22, 2014 while working out at the St. Vincent's Sports Performance Pre-Draft program. Bell is a former Warren Central High School RB. (Photo: Danese Kenon/The Star)

Indiana State's running back Shakir Bell,#22, attempts to run out of the tackle by South Dakota State's Bo Helm,right, in the second half of their game Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium in Terre Haute IN. Matt Kryger / The Star (Photo: Matt Kryger Indianapolis Star)

Warren Central running back Shakir Bell greets the crowd during introductions before the start of Friday night's game at Warren Central on August 28, 2009. (Matt Detrich / The Star) (Photo: Matt Detrich)

Warren Central running back Shakir Bell looks through a hole in the Carmel defense in the fourth quarter of Friday night's game at Carmel High School on Friday, October 2, 2009. Carmel won 24-22. (Matt Detrich / The Star) (Photo: Matt Detrich)

Warren Central player Shakir Bell (29) tries to get free from North Central player Andrew East (25). Warren Central host the matchup with North Central. (Perry Reichanadter/for the Star) (Photo: Perry Reichanadter)

Warren Central running back Shakir Bell is raised by his teammates as he celebrates his teams win after beating Center Grove 28-10 in Friday night's Class 5A Semi-State game held at Warren Central High School November 20, 2009. (Matt Detrich / The Star) (Photo: Matt Detrich)

Warren Central running back Sharik Bell flies over the Carmel defense in double overtime in the 5A State Football Finals held at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 28, 2009. Warren Central won 42-36 in double overtime. (Matt Detrich / The Star) (Photo: Matt Detrich)

Warren Central's Shakir Bell breaks through the Carmel defense for a big gain in the first quarter of Saturday's 5A State Football Finals held at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 28, 2009. (Matt Detrich / The Star) (Photo: Matt Detrich)

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Spearman said he isn't worried. Not being drafted would have its advantages.

"He'll be a preferred free agent," he said. "He'll have a team to pick from and an (offensive) scheme to pick from."

Bell has the support of Miles, his former coach. The two talk regularly and Miles said he makes sure to bring Bell's name up when speaking to NFL scouts and representatives.

"I never had problems with him," Miles said. "I thought he was an excellent young man, an excellent football player. He played with such grit. He was so tough in the way he played."

There have been suggestions that Bell's hard-running, between-the-tackles styles might work against him in his NFL bid because of his size.. Miles doesn't buy it, noting Bell squats more than 600 pounds and is more elusive than given credit for.

"He is very shifty," Miles said. "Go back and look at the films, the first guy is not tackling him. It's not that he wants to run over you. He will make you miss first. But if he has to, he will explode into the tackle after that."

Bell said he's taking on-line courses to finish a criminology degree from Indiana State. He's the father of a 4-month-old daughter, Aniya, and taking care of her financially serves as extra motivation.

"I really can't focus on the past or talk about what I've been through," he said. "I do feel if I talk about it now, it takes the focus away on what I'm supposed to do."